March 28, 1903. 
the gardening world. 
285 
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 
Quizzings by “ Cal.” 
“It isn’t so much the fleas that I object to,” remarked the 
long-suffering lodger to his landlady; “ 1 suppose they have a 
right to live as well as I have. But really I haven’t the blood to 
spare.” 
* * * 
And it isn’t the birds I object to, but my Pears have only one 
lot of buds, so that I can ill spare any. 
* * * 
If my trees had a reserve stock I shouldn’t so much mind. 
* * * 
Rabbits are a worry more than a little. 
if- * * 
Some people like cricket, others football, etc., but I can fancy 
nothing eo much as a little revolver practice with a scurrying 
rabbit for a Target. 
* * * 
A man when asked by another as to his reason for getting 
married replied, “That’s what I’ve been trying to find out.” 
* * * 
I wonder what sort of replies would be sent in if our genius 
asked why readers became gardeners ? 
* * * 
Personally, I should say because I’ve tried everything under 
the sun, but found gardening best. 
* * * 
Warsaw restaurant-keepers have been buying sparrows at one 
penny per pair, disposing of 5,000 weekly. 
* * * 
I guess there are a few thousands fit for sale in this country, 
and if the supply ran short Americans have just a few more than 
they want. 
* * * 
A poet soliloquises thus : — 
“ In gardens blight would never kill, we’d sow no fruitless seeds, 
Our flower beds would ne’er be choked with rank and useless 
weeds; 
Life would be ever pleasant, as e’en now sometimes it seems, 
If dreams were but realities, and realities were but dreams.” 
* * * 
Readers will admit the truth of this. 
* * * 
Various ways of “beating drums”? I never knew drums 
flowered, Mr. Editor, and knowing a little about bands, I fear a 
drum would suffer considerably if placed in a pond. I merely 
said “ treating Arums.” 
* * * 
It is indeed a pleasure to know that Mr. R. Sydenham seized 
what appeared to be a disappearing straw. 
* * * 
I fully trust that Countess Spencer Sweet Pea will have a good 
season for ripening, for there will undoubtedly be a big demand. 
* * * 
To get Chrysanthemums in March may be termed an achieve¬ 
ment. On the 1st inst. I saw a number of very good yellow 
flowers growing on a plant in a cottager’s window. [Some of our 
readers can bloom Chrysanthemums a.t any and every period of 
the year.—E d.] 
* * * 
The owner informed me that she potted up the plant in October 
j an d brought it into the room, where there was an occasional fire. 
IJnfortunately she was unable to tell me the name of the 
variety, having forgotten, and my enumeration of those I am 
acquainted with failed to bestir her memorv. 
* * * 
The note by “ D. S.” concerning the Acalypha hispida (Sanderi) 
j is more than interesting. 
* * * 
I remember seeing a fine stock of this plant several years ago, 
but it is seldom that a note appears praising this curious yet 
extremely beautiful species. 
Previous to its introduction the genus Acalypha was considered 
merely an ornamental foliage plant. 
* * * 
It was somewhere about 1897 that Monsieur Miohalitz dis¬ 
covered this new species in New Guinea when he was out Orchid¬ 
hunting. It required not a little grit to penetrate such canni¬ 
balistic. wilds, but M. Michalitz was fully repaid for his hardi¬ 
hood when in a'remote district he found the new Acalypha growing 
in great abundance, even the native huts being adorned with 
them. 
* * * 
The species is dioecious, and it is the pistillate or female form 
that is so striking. [Growers are not all of this opinion, as they 
pick off what they consider male flower spikes. —Ed.] 
* * * 
So impressed was the plant-hunter that he at once collected a 
large quantity, and personally attended them for 3,500 miles in 
order to see them safely from Singapore to England. 
* * * 
After the introduction as A. Sanderi it was learned that it had 
previously been discovered and described as A. hispida. 
* * * 
The plant created a furore in America, where it gained many 
new names. 
* * * 
Chenille Plant was the most popular, but Phillipine Medusa, 
Dewey’s Pride, Bloody Cat Tail, Tassel Plant, and Love Hangs 
Bleeding were a few other titles various florists styled it. 
* * * 
The plant succeeds well in Florida in the open, standing both 
the hot sun and heavy rains with impunity. 
* 
Respecting the number of flowerscapes on the Joss Lily, p. 197, 
I myself have grown them with six trusses, and I have known 
them to bear eight or nine. 
* * * 
Many persons fail to get more than one or two, or if more are 
thrown up they usually decay. 
* * * 
This variety of Narcissus is very vigorous in growth, and is apt 
to expend its energy in foliage, so that the scapes fail to open well. 
* * * 
I have checked the growth of leaf by cutting into the bulb 
before planting, making the incision about din. deep in the thick 
part of the bulb. 
* * * 
Naturally the cutting must be done before growth is under way, 
or they might be damaged. 
* * # 
The cutting frees the young bulbs, and enables them to push up 
their trusses, whereas if left alone they only succeed in sending 
up weak foliage and no flowers. 
* * * 
I have seen these bulbs in bowls with foliage nearly 3ft. high, 
and destitute of bloom, while cut bulbs do not exceed 1ft., and 
nearly every growth bears its accompanying flower spike. 
* * * 
There is likely to be a revival of. agriculture in South Hants, 
owing to the rapid movement of electric traction. 
•* * *. 
Cars are running for passengers from Po'“smouth to Horn- 
dean, and the scheme is to continue to Fareham and Southamp¬ 
ton. Already the carriage of produce and goods is being mooted, 
so that growers in country villages through which the cars will 
pass would be enabled to get their stuff into the market without 
waiting the railway companies’ pleasure. 
* * * 
There are not a few who consider the electric car will be the 
salvation of rural districts. May it truly be so ! 
* * * 
March the 1st brought some peculiar weather apparentlv. 
In the Ringwood district of Hants the daylight was really 
yellow, accomi>anied by yellow rain, which when allowed to 
settle precipitated a reddish-gray deposit. 
* ' * * 
Down our way (East Kent) we had rain, which was afterwards 
followed by a very fine yellowish dust, which clung to the wet 
surfaces of windows, etc. 
* * * 
It. certainly could not come from the wet roads, nor from the 
surface of the sea. * * * 
How and from whence it came no one appeared to know. 
